Notes from the office: is Mr. Trump mentally ill?

Throughout the year a plethora of people have asked me to comment on Mr. Trump’s mentality. What they really want to know is do I think he is crazy. They inquire what is his psychiatric diagnosis.

It reminds me of “The Goldwater Rule”:

Mr. Barry Goldwater ran for president in 1964. A magazine polled all the shrinks of the land whether or not they thought him mentally fit to be president. Of the ~2,500 docs who responded, 1189 said no, he was not fit. They diagnosed him as mentally deranged, unstable, possibly psychotic; many diagnosed him with a personality disorder. The magazine published this in an article saying “1189 psychiatrists think Goldwater a Loon” – or words to that effect. He lost to Mr. Johnson. After the election Mr. Goldwater sued the magazine for defamation, stating none of these psychiatrists had examined him and they didn’t have his permission to give out their professional opinions. While I am no fan of Mr. Goldwater, he was right. In response The APA made “The Goldwater Rule”. This law means my fellow wizards and I are not supposed to give pat diagnosis to people we haven’t personally examined or haven’t received permission, especially sue-happy Mr. Trump.

There are many aspects of Mr. Trump I find deplorable but I say this as a citizen giving his first amendment protected opinion based on his nasty statements and actions. I think him a nawful person, but I shan’t go so far as to publicly say he’s crazy as an outhouse rat.*

This doesn’t satisfy Spo-fans and patients; they want me to state I believe he has a narcissistic personality disorder. I have probity; I shan’t give out my professional opinion on his mentality lest The APA Secret Police or Trump’s lackeys suddenly appear and beat me up.**

So – I mind my Ps and Qs and merely voice my disapproval of his nasty ways and statements and of the Laestrygonians who follow him around.

The other day a patient came in for his/her appointment execrating Mrs. Clinton while extolling the so-called virtues of Mr. Trump, but the patient had paranoid schizophrenia, not merely racist views. I upped the dose of his/her medication to curtail the psychosis so hopefully he/she will soon come to his/her senses but I don’t think the Latuda will cause him/her to vote Democrat.

I had dinner with a political operative the other night who was providing the requested diagnosis, and he is not a shrink. I am not a doctor, but I once told a client that none of my-kind could help her, and perhaps she should talk to a good mental health professional. She exploded and accused me of practicing medicine without a license. Does the DSM5 include simply nuts as a diagnosis? Over the years I suggested to several clients that they talk to a mental health professional or doctor, one called me back and thanked me, saying my advice stopped her from committing suicide over being badgered by bill collectors.

I suspect many folks wanting an attorney see you/them as mere tools to do what they want regardless of what they should do. I see this at times when patients order me around as if I was a waiter at a diner.

That’s what I thought. If the majority of voters elect Trump they’ll get exactly what they deserve. A narcissistic con man who doesn’t care a whit about them, only feeding his own ego to win at all costs, country be damned. My only solace is that I’m nearing the end of my stay here on this earthly planet and, hopefully, Trump doesn’t start World War III before I depart.

I remember a science fiction story about a society that gets its political leaders through obligatory assignment on the sensible grounds anyone who actually wants to be in charge andrun things probably shouldn’t be allowed to do so.

I remember that Goldwater election. I can even recall the side’s uninspiring song/anthem/march, “We are voting – for Barry – Goldwater!” Maybe the resounding Republican defeat in ’64 is about to be repeated, though it now looks about as likely as Pope Frankie turning Protestant.